Variable explosion-displacement rotary engine

ABSTRACT

A variable explosion-displacement rotary engine, free of a fuel compression cycle, and specifically designed for use with pollution free fuels of the alkyne type; and others, having a cylindrical rotor revolving in an elliptical opening of a housing to define two annular spaces on two sides therebetween. The rotor having radial members which project to follow without sealing the contour of the elliptical opening to form volume expanding combustion areas behind said members. High speed tungsten poppet valves mounted in the fuel input ports which extend into the combustion areas open and close via differential in pressures to admit fuel periodically between explosions, the engine providing four explosions in one shaft revolution. Ignition timing cooperating with the position of said members and the volume of fuel displaced controls the explosive force, the explosion displacement, engine torque and shaft revolutions per minute. The volume of fuel exploded is in direct proportion to the amount of horsepower required at any moment with the fuel-air mixture precisely fixed for complete combustion and pollution free exhaust.

United vStates Patent [1 1 Britt Dec. 18, 1973 1 VARIABLEEXPLOSION-DISPLACEMENT ROTARY ENGINE [76] Inventor: Robert Gordon Britt,242

Connecticut Ave., Spartanburg, SC. 29302 22, Filed: June 5,1972

21 Appl. No.: 259,741

[52] US. Cl. l23/8.49 [51] Int. Cl. F021) 53/06 [58] Field of Search123/849; 251/D1G. 3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,283,433 5/1942 Grossl23/8.45 2,547,560 4/1951 Brodzinsky 60/39.76

2.231.440 2/1941 Fess 123/849 1,090.021 3/1914 Burton et a1 l23/8.49

2,224,443 12/1940 Maurer et a1. l23/8.49 1,167,386 1/1916 Crusius251/D1G. 3

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATlONS 1,361,236 4/1964 France 123/849 PrimaryExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Michael Koczo, Jr.

SOURCE OF FIXED FUEL. AIR MlXTURE Attorney-Solon B. Kemon, CarrollPalmer and William T. Estabrook 5 7 ABSTRACT A variableexplosion-displacement rotary engine, free of a fuel compression cycle,and specifically designed for use with pollution free fuels of thealkyne type; and others, having a cylindrical rotor revolving in anelliptical opening of a housing to define two annular spaces on twosides therebetween. The rotor having radial members which project tofollow without sealing the contour of the elliptical opening to formvolume expanding combustion areas behind said members. High speedtungsten poppet valves mounted in the fuel input ports which extend intothe combustion areas open and close via differential in pressures toadmit fuel periodically between explosions, the engine providing fourexplosions in one shaft revolution. Ignition timing cooperating with theposition of said members and the volume of fuel displaced controls theexplosive force, the explosion displacement, engine torque and shaftrevolutions per minute. The volume of fuel exploded is in directproportion to the amount of horsepower required at any moment with thefuelair mixture precisely fixed for complete combustion and pollutionfree exhaust.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEIIIIEC 18 ms SHEET 10F 3 SOURCE OFFIXED FUEL AIR MIXTURE CLOSED VALVE VALVE OPEN FIG.

PATENTEU DEC 18 875 SHEET 2 OF 3 HIGH VOLT OSCILLATO POWER SUPPLY SCRSWITCH TO ENGINE fisHAET FIG. 4

RIGGER MA L/ ADVANCE FIG. 5

VARIABLE EXPLOSION-DISPLACEMENT ROTARY ENGINE BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to the development of a variableexplosion-displacement rotary engine having the advantages of greaterefficiency and flexibility over those disclosed in the prior art.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an engine which issimple in construction, smooth running, relatively quiet in operationthrough the symmetrical balanced motion; eliminating the need for noiseand shock suppressors, easy starting due to the absence of a compressioncycle, having an elliptical opening in the housing to define two annularopenings as displaced by a cylindrical rotor having two radial memberswhich project to follow without sealing thereto the contour of theperipheral elliptical opening to form volume expanding combustion areasbehind said rotating members, having high speed poppet valves disposedaround the periphery of the combustion areas opening and closing viadifferential pressures to admit fuel in variable volumes proportional tothe position of said members cooperating with the ignition timingpositioned by the throttle linkage controlling the explosion combustionforce, explosion displacement, shaft torque and revolutions per minute,which results in four complete combustion cycles per RPM and pollutionfree exhaust emissions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS Other objects, advantages andfeatures should become apparent from the following disclosure wherein:

FIG. I is an elevational view of an engine unit constructed inaccordance with the invention with an end cover thereof removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the engine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotor and diametrically opposedlaminated blade assemblies as shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the ignition system;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the unique high cycle speed tungsten poppetvalve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, thevariable explosion-displacement rotary engine comprises a housing 1,which has an open space la therein defined by an at least partiallyelliptical wall 1b. An output shaft 3 is axially disposed in said space.A rotor 4 rotates about the axis 2 of the output shaft 3 while beingconcentrically mounted on the latter. The rotor 4 is in the shape of acylinder which contains guide slots 5 in which two diametrically opposedlaminated'blades 6 move outward radially as via centrifugal force tobring the anti-friction edges grooved as shown at 60 in FIGS. 1 and 3 incontact with the inner elliptical surface of housing 1. The blades 6 donot seal against the elliptical inner wall 1b of the housing 1. Aby-pass valve means is formed thereby which includes a plurality ofstacked laminar blades having spaced passageways formed by the grooves6a carried in staggered relationship from one blade to another. Aby-pass of diminishing proportions is thus created between the blade andthe surface lb as the rotor rotates to move the blade for example, froma twelve oclock to a nine oclock position along the inner wall 1b of theelliptical chamber. The same effect occurs of course, as a blade ismoved from a six oclock to a three oclock position as viewed in FIG. I.A negative pressure is developed in the crescent shaped chamber formedbehind the trailing edge of the blade to suck a fuel air mixture intothat space through inlet ports 12 and valves 14. When the charge isignited, the pressure becomes positive to close the inlet valve andforce the rotor around to repeat the cycle. The above assembliescomprising parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are contained by the two endplates 7, which contact metal ring seals 8 on the rotor 4 which preventcombustion pressures from being imposed on the coolant seal 9 located inthe center area of the end plates 7. The end bells 10, mounted via boltcircles along the perimeter, align into housing 1 and enclose end plates7. Two exhaust ports 11 located in housing 1 are in a fixed openposition. Four fuel input ports 12 located in housing 1 contain highspeed tungsten poppet valves 14 of unique design that were developed forthe engine; as shown in FIG. more particularly. The shaft 3, supportedby bearings 15, contains the coolant impeller 16. The coolant l7 enterscoolant input port 18 and into the end bell 10, and between the coolantseals 9 and 19, and into radial holes in shaft 3 into shaft center bore20, and into the turbine cavity via other radial shaft holes intoopposite shaft center holes 20, via other radial shaft holes intocoolant impeller 16, through the coolant pump impeller via centrifugalaction into the other end bell 10, through the housing I perimeterbores, returning to the opposite end bell and coolant output port 21.Two spark plugs 30 and 31 located in housing 1 between fuel input ports12, provide ignition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and block diagram of the ignition system,including a timing drum 23 mounted securely to the output shaft 3, whichcontains two ignition switch-on magnets 25 and two ignition switch-offmagnets 24, located on the perimeter of drum 23. Adjustable meansinclude a trigger coil 26 movable about the axis 2 near the perimeter ofdrum 23, the movement and position of trigger coil 26 being controlledthrough suitable engine throttle linkage not shown. The trigger coil 26is electrically connected to the SCR switch 27. SCR switch 27 iselectrically connected to Power Supply 28 and high voltage oscillatorcoil 29. The high voltage oscillator coil 29 is electrically connectedto the spark plugs 30 and 31. A unique high cycle speed tungsten poppetvalve is illustrated in plan view in FIG. 5 and schematically in sideelevation in FIG. I wherein; the outer ring 32 provides mounting and thecenter disc 33 functions to open and close fuel port 12. The flexibleribs 34 provide linkage between outer ring 32 and center disc 33, act asa fuel diffuser, and also provides the required spring action to keepcenter disc 33 normally closed against the opening of fuel ports 12.

In operation, and by reference to FIG. 1 in particular, the rotor 4 isrotated in the counter clockwise direction by a starter motor, crank, orlike mechanism. As the blades 6 revolve within the elliptical center ofhousing 1, a reduction of pressure below atmospheric is effected in thevolume expanding peripheral areas trailing the blades 6. This pressuredifferential causes the poppet valves 14 to open admitting the fuel-airmixture into the volume expanding periphral areas via the fuel inputports 12.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, the trigger coil 26 has beenpositioned via the throttle linkage control to engage one of theignition switch-on magnets 24 when the diametrically opposed blades 6are positioned 90 and 270 midway between the fuel input ports 12.

and exhaust ports 11. One of the switch-on magnets 24 having fluxed thetrigger coil 26, closes SCR switch 27, energizes the high voltageoscillator coil 29 which is now providing a high tension are at sparkplugs 30 and 31 Spark plugs 30 and 31 ignite the fuelair mixtures andthe two diametrically opposed explosions close the poppet valves 14blocking thefuel input ports 12 and stop fuel supply. The explosionpressure now imposed on the trailing sides of the diametrically opposedblades 6 effectively rotate the rotor 4 and shaft 3 through 180. Duringthe next 180 when the above cycle is being repeated, the leading side ofthe blades 6 force exhaust gases out of the engine through the exhaustports ill. The switch-off magnets 24 located on the timing drum 23function to magnetically reverse flux the trigger coil 26 and interruptignition between each 180 cycle.

There are four combustion explosions during each shaft revolution. Theposition of the ignition trigger coil 26 around the timingdrum 23ADVANCES or RE- TARDS ignition timing to provide engine throttlecontrol. When the trigger coil 26 is moved toward AD- VANCE timingposition, the engine torque and revolutions per minute will decrease dueto a reduction in the fuel volume displaced in cooperation with the newposition of the blades 6 at the time of ignition, which results in areduction in the explosive force transmitted to the blades 6 in directproportion to the volume of fuel exploded. Moving the trigger coil 26towards the RETARD position will increase engine torque and revolutionsper minute due to an increase in the fuel volume displaced incooperation with the new position of the blades 6 and the time ofignition, which results in an increase in the explosive forcetransmitted to the blades in direct proportion to the volume of fuelexploded.

The explosive forces impressed on the blades 6 are transmitted directlyto the rotor 4 and directly from the rotor 4 to the shaft 3.

The fuel-air mixture from a suitable source (FIG. 1) is preciselyadjusted for complete combustion of the gas and is permanently fixed inthis position to provide pollution free exhaust emissions.

What has been set forth above is intended as exemplary to enable thoseskilled in the art in the practice of the invention. It should,therefore, be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims,the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

What is now and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A rotary engine comprising:

a housing having an open space therein defined by an at least partiallyelliptical wall;

a rotatable cylindrical rotor axially disposed within said spacedefining at least one substantially crescent shaped chamber;

a radially movable blade means carried by said turbine rotor extendinginto contact with said wall for creating a low pressure in said crescentshaped chamber behind said blade means as said rotor is rotated in onedirection;

a source of combustible fixed fuel mixture;

fuel intake means communicating with said source and with said crescentshaped chamber for introducing fuel into said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade means;

exhaust means communicating with said crescent shaped chamber at a pointspaced angularly from said intake means in the direction of rotation ofsaid rotor;

fuel ignition means positioned in communication with said crescentshaped chamber adjacent said intake means for burning the fuel thereincreating a high pressure in said crescent shaped chamber;

a valve carried by said fuel intake means for opening said fuel intakemeans responsive to a reduction in pressure in said crescent shapedchamber behind said blade means and closing said fuel intake meansresponsive to said high pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behindsaid blade means; and

adjustable means for actuating said ignition means at selected positionsof said blade in said crescent shaped chamber;

whereby controlled volumes of a fixed fuel mixture may be ignited tomeet varying power requirements.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including:

a by-pass valve means effective at least during an initial portion ofmovement of the blade means through said crescent shaped chamber forreducing and thereby controlling said high pressure created behind saidblade means.

3. The structureset forth in claim 2 wherein a pair of opposed crescentshaped chambers are defined in said housing, each such chamber havingfuel intake means, exhaust means, a valve and fuel ignition means.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said radially movableblade means includes:

a plurality of stacked laminar blades having passageways spaced instaggered relationship in the outer edge of said blade from one blade toanother forming said bypass valve means;

whereby a by-pass of diminishing proportions is created as said blademeans moves through said cres cent shaped chamber from a position nearthe minor axis of the elliptical wall toward the greater axis of thewall responsive to relative movement of the laminar blades with respectto each other as a result of their contact with the elliptical wall.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said valve is poppet valvenormally spring biased to close said fuel intake means.

6. A rotary engine comprising:

a housing having an open space therein defined by an at least partiallyelliptical wall;

a rotatable cylindrical rotor axially disposed within said space anddefining at least one substantially crescent shaped chamber;

a radially movable blade means carried by saidrotor extending intocontact with said wall for creating a low pressure in said crescentshaped chamber behind said blade means as said rotor is rotated in onedirection;

a source of a combustible fuel;

fuel intake means communicating with said source and with said crescentshaped chamber for introducing fuel into said crescent shaped chamberbehind said blade means;

exhaust means communicating with said crescent shaped means chamberahead of said blade means; fuel ignition means positioned in saidcrescent shaped chamber behind said blade means for burning the fueltherein creating a high pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behindsaid blade means; and l a by-pass valve means effective at least duringan initial portion of movement of the blade means through said crscentshaped chamber for reducing and thereby controlling said high pressurecreated behind said blade means.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said radially movableblade means includes:

a plurality of stacked laminar blades having spaced passageways instaggered relationship from one blade to another forming said by-passvalve means;

said by-pass valve means having an opening of diminishing proportions assaid blade means moves through an initial portion of said crescentshaped chamber responsive to movement of the blades with respect to eachother as a result of their contact with the elliptical wall; and

a poppet valve normally spring biases to close said fuel intake means.

8. In a rotary engine having a housing with an open space thereindefined by an at least partially elliptical wall, a rotatablecylindrical rotor axially disposed within and space defining at leastone substantially crescent shaped chamber; and a radially movable blademeans carried by said rotor extending into contact with said wall forcreating a low pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behind saidblade means as said rotor is rotated in one direction;

a source of a fixed fuel mixture;

fuel intake means communicating with said source and with said crescentshaped chamber for introducing fuel into said crescent shaped chamberbehind said blade means;

exhaust means communicating with said crescent shaped means chamberahead of said blade means;

fuel ignition means positioned in said crescent shaped chamber behindsaid blade means for burning the fuel therein creating a high pressurein said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade means; and

adjustable means for actuating said ignition means at selected positionsof said blade in said crescent shaped chamber;

whereby controlled volumes of a fixed fuel mixture may be ignited tomeet varying power requirements.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8, including:

a poppet valve carried adjacent said fuel intake means opening said fuelintake means responsive to said low pressure in said crescent shapedchamber behind said blade means and closing said fuel intake meansresponsive to said high pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behindsaid blade means.

1. A rotary engine comprising: a housing having an open space thereindefined by an at least partially elliptical wall; a rotatablecylindrical rotor axially disposed within said space defining at leastone substantially crescent shaped chamber; a radially movable blademeans carried by said turbine rotor extending into contact with saidwall for creating a low pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behindsaid blade means as said rotor is rotated in one direction; a source ofcombustible fixed fuel mixture; fuel intake means communicating withsaid source and with said crescent shaped chamber for introducing fuelinTo said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade means; exhaust meanscommunicating with said crescent shaped chamber at a point spacedangularly from said intake means in the direction of rotation of saidrotor; fuel ignition means positioned in communication with saidcrescent shaped chamber adjacent said intake means for burning the fueltherein creating a high pressure in said crescent shaped chamber; avalve carried by said fuel intake means for opening said fuel intakemeans responsive to a reduction in pressure in said crescent shapedchamber behind said blade means and closing said fuel intake meansresponsive to said high pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behindsaid blade means; and adjustable means for actuating said ignition meansat selected positions of said blade in said crescent shaped chamber;whereby controlled volumes of a fixed fuel mixture may be ignited tomeet varying power requirements.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1including: a by-pass valve means effective at least during an initialportion of movement of the blade means through said crescent shapedchamber for reducing and thereby controlling said high pressure createdbehind said blade means.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein apair of opposed crescent shaped chambers are defined in said housing,each such chamber having fuel intake means, exhaust means, a valve andfuel ignition means.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein saidradially movable blade means includes: a plurality of stacked laminarblades having passageways spaced in staggered relationship in the outeredge of said blade from one blade to another forming said by-pass valvemeans; whereby a by-pass of diminishing proportions is created as saidblade means moves through said crescent shaped chamber from a positionnear the minor axis of the elliptical wall toward the greater axis ofthe wall responsive to relative movement of the laminar blades withrespect to each other as a result of their contact with the ellipticalwall.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said valve is poppetvalve normally spring biased to close said fuel intake means.
 6. Arotary engine comprising: a housing having an open space therein definedby an at least partially elliptical wall; a rotatable cylindrical rotoraxially disposed within said space and defining at least onesubstantially crescent shaped chamber; a radially movable blade meanscarried by said rotor extending into contact with said wall for creatinga low pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade meansas said rotor is rotated in one direction; a source of a combustiblefuel; fuel intake means communicating with said source and with saidcrescent shaped chamber for introducing fuel into said crescent shapedchamber behind said blade means; exhaust means communicating with saidcrescent shaped means chamber ahead of said blade means; fuel ignitionmeans positioned in said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade meansfor burning the fuel therein creating a high pressure in said crescentshaped chamber behind said blade means; and a by-pass valve meanseffective at least during an initial portion of movement of the blademeans through said crscent shaped chamber for reducing and therebycontrolling said high pressure created behind said blade means.
 7. Thestructure set forth in claim 6 wherein said radially movable blade meansincludes: a plurality of stacked laminar blades having spacedpassageways in staggered relationship from one blade to another formingsaid by-pass valve means; said by-pass valve means having an opening ofdiminishing proportions as said blade means moves through an initialportion of said crescent shaped chamber responsive to movement of theblades with respect to each other as a result of their contact with theelliptical wall; and a poppet valve normally spring biases to close saidfuel intake meanS.
 8. In a rotary engine having a housing with an openspace therein defined by an at least partially elliptical wall, arotatable cylindrical rotor axially disposed within and space definingat least one substantially crescent shaped chamber; and a radiallymovable blade means carried by said rotor extending into contact withsaid wall for creating a low pressure in said crescent shaped chamberbehind said blade means as said rotor is rotated in one direction; asource of a fixed fuel mixture; fuel intake means communicating withsaid source and with said crescent shaped chamber for introducing fuelinto said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade means; exhaust meanscommunicating with said crescent shaped means chamber ahead of saidblade means; fuel ignition means positioned in said crescent shapedchamber behind said blade means for burning the fuel therein creating ahigh pressure in said crescent shaped chamber behind said blade means;and adjustable means for actuating said ignition means at selectedpositions of said blade in said crescent shaped chamber; wherebycontrolled volumes of a fixed fuel mixture may be ignited to meetvarying power requirements.
 9. The structure set forth in claim 8,including: a poppet valve carried adjacent said fuel intake meansopening said fuel intake means responsive to said low pressure in saidcrescent shaped chamber behind said blade means and closing said fuelintake means responsive to said high pressure in said crescent shapedchamber behind said blade means.